Linear actuator system

ABSTRACT

Linear actuator system comprising a linear actuator and at least one box, such as a control box containing a control and possibly also a mains-based power supply or a battery box with a rechargeable battery pack. The linear actuator system further comprises a fastening means for the box, wherein the fastening means is constituted by an elongated item with a rectangular outline and a square cross-section. The box has a groove for receiving the fastening means. The fastening means and the groove are constituted with mutually interacting releasable locking connections. The fastening means can be designed as an independent item that can be fastened where the box is to be placed. The fastening means can also be used to interconnect two or more boxes by fastening the fastening means to a box. Alternatively, the fastening means can be formed as an integral part of the box. The fastening means can also be used to fasten a box to the outer tube on a linear actuator by fastening or, more expediently, by the fastening means being designed as an integral part of a tubular mounting bracket which is slid over an outer tube on the linear actuator.

This application is a national phase of International Application No.PCT/DK2015/000045 filed Nov. 12, 2015 and published in the Englishlanguage, which claims priority to DK PA 2014 00660 filed on Nov. 12,2014.

The present invention relates to a linear actuator system comprising alinear actuator with a housing, an electric motor with a transmission, aspindle unit), an activation element in connection with the spindle unitand wherein the electric motor via the transmission drives the spindleunit), such that the activation element moves back and forth dependingon the direction of rotation of the electric motor, and furthercomprising a box, such as a control box containing a controller andpossibly also a mains-based power supply or a battery box with a batterypack, and wherein the box can be secured to an item.

A linear actuator is known from U.S. Pat. No. 8,047,867 B2 to T-Motion,in which a control box can be mounted in the angle between the housingwith the motor and an outer tube standing perpendicularly from the sideof the housing at its front end. The control box is secured to thelinear actuator, both with its rear end and with the side that facestowards the outer tube. For attaching the rear end of the control box,this and the side of the housing, which it faces towards, is providedwith a dovetail connection, such that the control box, when displacedfrom the rear end of the housing towards the outer tube, is hitched tothe housing. The side of the housing is secured by means of a tubularmounting bracket, which can be slid over the outer tube of the linearactuator. The side of the control box and the side of the mountingbracket, which faces towards this, are also furnished with a dovetailconnection such that the control box is secured to the outer tube whenthe mounting bracket is slid over this. When space is limited, it can bedifficult to find enough room to slide the control box sideways from therear end of the housing towards the outer tube. In addition, the twodovetail connections also entail a complication of the mould tools. Thecontrol box has a loose sliding cover, the position of which whenmounted is determined by a stop collar on the sliding cover, whichinteracts with the front end of the tubular mounting bracket and islocked with a hook on the control box at one side thereof, and is inengagement with a slot at one side of the sliding cover.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a linear actuator system,wherein a control box or other box can be secured independently of thelinear actuator.

According to the invention, this is achieved by designing the linearactuator system as stated in claim 1, wherein the linear actuator systemfurther comprises a fastening means for the box, wherein the fasteningmeans is comprised of an elongated item with a rectangular outline and asquare cross-section and that the outside of the box is provided with agroove for receiving the fastening means and that the fastening meansand the groove are constituted with mutually interacting releasablelocking connections and that the fastening means is designed so that itcan be secured to an item. The fastening means can be designed as aseparate item that can be fastened where the box is to be placed. Thefastening means can also be used to interconnect two or more boxes byfastening the fastening means to a box. Alternatively, the fasteningmeans can be designed as an integral part of the box. The fasteningmeans can also be used to fasten a box to the outer tube of a linearactuator by fastening or, more expediently, in that the fastening meansare designed as an integral part of a tubular mounting bracket which ismoved over an outer tube on the linear actuator.

In a special embodiment of the interacting fastening means, there is anindentation in each side of the rib of the fastening means, locatedpartway in, and there are protrusions in the sides of the groove on thebox, one pair at the front end of the groove and one pair locatedpartway in along the groove and wherein the shape of the protrusions onthe groove corresponds to the indentations in the rib of the fasteningmeans. When fastening the box, it is with the groove slid over the ribon the fastening means, such that one pair of protrusions reaches intothe indentations on the rib of the fastening means. The box is thendisplaced, whereby the rib on the fastening means grips behind theprotrusions in the groove and retains the box on the fastening means. Ina further development, there are interacting snap-locking connections inthe bottom of the groove on the box and in the rib on the fasteningmeans, whereby the control box is secured against being displaced in thegroove and thus also from unintended detachment.

In an embodiment, the tubular mounting bracket for mounting a box on theouter tube of a linear actuator has an axially extending slit,preferably throughout the tubular portion of the mounting bracket, andthe rib on the fastening means extends on both sides of the slit. Theaxially extending slit facilitates the securing of the mounting bracketon the outer tube of the linear actuator, as the tubular portion of themounting bracket can expand slightly and thereby compensate formanufacturing tolerances and some small insecurities during the securingof the mounting bracket. When the box is subsequently fastened onto themounting bracket, the slit is contracted such that the tubular portionof the mounting bracket tightens around the outer tube on the linearactuator, thereby ensuring a good securing.

In a further embodiment, the box is provided with a number of groovesfor receiving the fastening means, such that the box can be fastened indifferent locations with respect to the fastening means. This isparticularly important when fastening a control box on a linearactuator, as the control box can thus be mounted in various ways inrelation to the linear actuator. For example, the box can be designedwith a groove on a side and two grooves on the underside. Thus, it ispossible to mount a control box level with the linear actuator orstanding upright or otherwise adapt the placing to the presentconditions. It is obvious that the mounting possibilities are notlimited to these options. Naturally, the box can be mounted in otherways by placing the grooves differently.

In the embodiment, where the fastening means is formed as a separateelement, it can be fitted with means adapted to the relevant base onwhich the fastening means shall be mounted. For example, the fasteningmeans can be mounted with an adhesive or Velcro®. In an embodiment, thefastening means is formed with a hole at least at each end for a screw,bolt, nail or similar fastening means, which in most cases will providea secure fastening.

In a further embodiment the linear actuator system comprises a controlpanel or hand control where a least one groove is designed on the rearside for mounting the control panel or hand control by means of thefastening means. In connection with adjustable beds such as beds wherethe back rest and leg rest could be adjusted by means of a linearactuator system, the control panel or wireless hand control could theneasily be mounted on the bed. Loose control panels and hand controlsoften poses a problem in regard to where to place it and some times theyalso get lost. This problem is solved by this further embodiment andfurther it is possible to place the control panel and hand controlwithin reach.

The invention is described in more detail below, with reference to theexamples illustrated on the accompanying drawings. The drawing show:

FIG. 1 a longitudinal section through a linear actuator,

FIG. 2 a linear actuator mounted with a box placed horizontally,

FIG. 3 a linear actuator mounted with a box placed edgeways,

FIG. 4 a linear actuator and a mounting bracket for insertion over anouter tube on the actuator,

FIG. 5 the mounting bracket viewed from the front,

FIG. 6 the mounting bracket viewed from behind,

FIG. 7 a linear actuator and box placed edgeways as well as a box placedhorizontally,

FIG. 8 a mounting bracket for a box, where the mounting bracket isviewed from above,

FIG. 9 the mounting bracket in FIG. 8 viewed from the side,

FIG. 10 a box placed edgeways, ready for mounting with the bottom on atubular cabling duct,

FIG. 11 the box shown mounted on the tubular cabling duct,

FIG. 12 a box placed edgeways, ready for mounting with the side on atubular cabling duct,

FIG. 13 the box shown mounted on the tubular cabling duct,

FIG. 14 a box placed horizontally, ready for mounting on a flat base,

FIG. 15 the box mounted on the flat base,

FIG. 16 two boxes of another type placed horizontally, where the lowerbox with the bottom is ready for mounting on a flat base and the secondbox is ready to be mounted on top of the lower box,

FIG. 17 the two boxes mounted on top of each other, where the lower boxis mounted on the flat base,

FIG. 18 a box of the first type shown in FIG. 2-15, ready for mountingon top of a box of the second type shown in FIG. 16-17, and where thebox of the second type is shown ready for mounting on a level base,

FIG. 19 the two boxes mounted on top of each other, where the lower boxis shown mounted on the level base,

FIG. 20 the box of the first type, shown with open cover,

FIG. 21 the box of the first type, shown with open cover and with theside mounted on a cabling duct and where the routing of cables is shownin the box,

FIG. 22 the box of the first type, shown with open cover,

FIG. 23 the box of the first type, shown with closed cover, and whereone side of the cover has been cut away,

FIG. 24 the box of the first type, shown with loose cover ready to beplaced on the box,

FIG. 25 the linear actuator in FIGS. 2-4 and 7 and a further embodimentof the mounting bracket for insertion over the outer tube on theactuator,

FIG. 26 the mounting bracket viewed from the front,

FIG. 27 the mounting bracket viewed from behind,

FIG. 28 the linear actuator and box placed edgeways as well as a boxplaced horizontally,

FIG. 29 a linear actuator and an embodiment of the mounting bracket forinsertion over an outer tube on the linear actuator,

FIG. 30 the mounting bracket viewed from the front,

FIG. 31 the mounting bracket viewed from behind,

FIG. 32 the linear actuator seen from the side with the mounting bracketinserted over the outer tube on the linear actuator, just beforereaching its locked position,

FIG. 33 the same as in FIG. 32 but where the mounting bracket is in itsfinal locked position,

FIG. 34 the linear actuator and control box placed edgeways as well as acontrol box placed horizontally,

FIG. 35 the linear actuator mounted with a control box placedhorizontally,

FIG. 36 the linear actuator mounted with a control box placed edgeways,

FIG. 37 a further embodiment of the mounting bracket for a box, wherethe mounting bracket is viewed from above,

FIG. 38 the mounting bracket in FIG. 37 viewed from the side,

FIG. 39 two boxes of another type placed horizontally, where the lowerbox with the bottom is ready for mounting on a flat base and the secondbox is ready to be mounted on top of the lower box,

FIG. 40 a yet further embodiment of the mounting bracket fixed on a flatbase and control box ready to be mounted on the flat base,

FIG. 41 the control box mounted on the flat base,

FIG. 42 the mounting bracket in FIG. 40 seen directly from the side,

FIG. 43 the mounting bracket in FIG. 42 seen directly from above,

FIG. 44, a hand control designed for mounting with a mounting bracketshown in FIG. 37-38,

FIG. 45, a further embodiment of the box seen from one side, the boxhaving a lid which is shown in its open state,

FIG. 46, the box in FIG. 45, seen from the other side, and

FIG. 47, the box seen as in FIG. 46 but with the lid closed.

The main components of the linear actuator outlined in FIG. 1 arecomprised of a housing 1, a reversible electric motor 2, a transmission2 a, a spindle unit 3 with a spindle 3 a, on which there is a spindlenut 3 b, an activation element 4 in the form of a tube section, whichwith a rear end is secured to the spindle nut, an outer tube 5, whichwith a rear end is secured to the housing 1, and where the outer tube 5surrounds the spindle unit 3 and the activation element 4. The outertube 5 acts as a guide for the activation element 4 and the spindle nut3 b. It further comprises a front mounting 6 in the front end of theactivation element 4, and a rear mounting 7 in the rear end of thehousing, where the front mounting 6 and the rear mounting 7 serve formounting the linear actuator in the structure wherein the linearactuator shall be built in When the electric motor 2 is activated thespindle 3 a is set into rotation, whereby the spindle nut 3 b and theconnected activation element 4 will move outwards on the spindle 3 a orretract inwards on the spindle 3 a, depending on the direction ofrotation of the reversible electric motor 2.

FIG. 2 of the drawing shows a perspective view of the linear actuator inwhich a box 9 is mounted in the angle between the housing of the linearactuator 1 and the outer tube 5 by means of a mounting bracket 8, morespecifically a control box containing a controller for a number oflinear actuators and a mains-based power supply. The box 9 is mountedhere so that it is level with the housing 1 and the outer tube 5 of thelinear actuator. However, the box 9 can also be mounted such that itstands upright, as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 4-6, the mounting bracket 8 comprises a tubular portion10, where the inside diameter 11 has a circular cross-section, adaptedsuch that the mounting bracket 8 with the tubular portion 10 can be slidover the outer tube 5, which also has a circular cross-section. Thetubular portion 10 of the mounting bracket 8 has an axially extendingslit 12, which makes it easier to slide the mounting bracket 8 over theouter tube 5, as the tubular portion 10 of the mounting bracket 8 canexpand slightly due to the axially extending slit 12. Due to the axiallyextending slit 12, the inside diameter 11 in the tubular portion 10 canbe adapted, such that the mounting bracket 8 with the tubular portion 10fits tightly around the outer tube 5. There is a radially protruding arm13 at the rear end of the mounting bracket 8. On the rear side, i.e. theside facing towards the linear actuator, there is a groove 14 running inthe longitudinal direction of the arm 13. When the mounting bracket 8 isslid fully against the front end of the housing 1 on the linearactuator, the mounting bracket 8 with the groove 14 is slid over aprotruding rib 15 with a shape corresponding to the groove on the linearactuator housing 1. This secures the mounting bracket 8 so that itcannot rotate around the outer tube 5. The groove 14 and the protrudingrib 15 on the housing 1 are further designed with snap locks, whichretain the mounting bracket 8 in the axial direction, so that themounting bracket 8 does not unintentionally slide out of the outer tube5 on the linear actuator. The longitudinal slit 12 in the tubularportion 8 continues partway out in the arm 13 on the mounting bracket 8,such that the arm does not counteract the expansion of the tubularportion 10 when the mounting bracket 8 is slid over the outer tube 5 onthe linear actuator. It is noted that the arm 13 is located across theslit in the tubular portion 10 on the mounting bracket 8. A fasteningmeans 8 a is constructed in connection with the axially extending slit12. This fastening means 8 a comprises a rib 15 extending on both sidesof the slit 12. Partway in, each side of the rib 15 is furnished with anindentation 16.

FIG. 7 on the drawing shows a perspective view of the linear actuatorwith fitted mounting bracket 8 and a box 9 in a horizontal position anda box 9 standing upright, ready to be mounted on the linear actuator, asshown in FIG. 2. On the side of the box 9 shown in a horizontalposition, there is a longitudinal groove 17, which continues out on therear side of the box. The shape of the groove 17 corresponds to the rib15 on the mounting bracket 8. At the sides of the groove 17 there areprotrusions 18, a pair 18 a at the front end of the groove, and a pair18 b partway in along the groove. The shape of the protrusions 18 blocated in on the groove 17 corresponds to the shape of the indentations16 in the rib 15 on the mounting bracket 8. The box 9 is mounted in thatit is placed the one with the groove 17 over the rib 15 on the mountingbracket 8, such that the protrusions 18 b reach into the indentations 16on the rib 15 in the mounting bracket 8. The box 9 is then pushedtowards the rear, against the housing 1 on the linear actuator, suchthat the protrusions 18 a,18 b in the groove 17 grips behind the rib 15,more specifically the area 15 a in connection with the indentations 16and the front end 15 b of the rib, and secures the box on the mountingbracket 8 on the outer tube 5 of the linear actuator. The box 9 issecured against unintended detachment in that there are interactingsnap-lock connections 19 in the bottom of the groove 17 on the box 9 andin the rib 15 on the mounting bracket 8. In order to secure the box 9against tilting on the rib 15 of the mounting bracket 8, the arm 13 atthe outer end is provided with a cam-shaped protrusion 20, which gripsinto a thereby shape-conformed recess 21 on the rear side of the box 9.It is noted in this context that a control box can be quite heavy,especially if the power supply is based on a transformer, which is oftenthe case. The torque that is transmitted to the joint between the rib 15and the associated groove 17 will then be relatively large, for whichreason it is expedient to fix the box 9 to the arm 13. It can also beseen from FIG. 7 that the box 9 has two grooves 17 a, 17 b on theunderside, corresponding to the groove 17 on the side of the box, suchthat the box can be mounted with the underside on the mounting bracket 8of the linear actuator, such that the box 9 stands upright as shown inFIG. 3. When the box 9 is mounted with the groove 17 a, the box does notproject above the housing 1 of the linear actuator, i.e. this can thenbe mounted closely up against an item, such as a flat surface, a beam orthe like. If the box is mounted with the second groove 17 b, the boxprojects more or less equally above and below the outer tube 5 of thelinear actuator.

FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawing show another embodiment of a mountingbracket 22 for the box 9, whereby it can be mounted independently of thelinear actuator. The mounting bracket 22 is designed as a rib 23,corresponding to the rib 15 on the mounting bracket 8 for a linearactuator. Thus, the rib 23 here also has a pair of indentations 24partway in, corresponding to the protrusions 18 b in the grooves 17,17a,17 b on the box, so that this with a groove can be placed over themounting bracket 22. The mounting bracket 22 has two screw holes 25 forfastening the mounting bracket with a pair of screws or bolts. Themounting bracket is also provided at one end with a releasable snap-lockpart for interaction with the snap-lock part in the box. The box 9 canbe detached from the mounting bracket 22 by pressing the resilientsnap-lock part 26 out of its engagement with the snap-lock part on thebox 9. The box is then displaced axially so that the protrusions 18 bcome to be located opposite the indentations 24 in the mounting bracket,whereby the box can be pulled out of its engagement with the mountingbracket.

FIG. 10-15 show three examples of different mountings of the box 9. FIG.10-11 shows how the box 9 can be mounted with the mounting bracket 22 ona tubular cable tray 27. The mounting bracket 22 is fastened initiallyonto the cable tray 27 with a pair of screws, after which the box canimmediately be mounted. In FIG. 10-11 it is shown mounted with thebottom to the cable tray 27, while FIG. 12-13 show it mounted with theside to the cable tray 27. FIG. 14-15 show how the box 9 is mounted withthe bottom on a flat surface 28. It should be understood that the box 9can naturally also be mounted with the side on the plate piece. In manyhospital and care beds, the support surface for the mattress has a fixedcentre section between the adjustable back rest section and the leg restsection. The box 9 can thus be mounted on the underside of this fixedcentre section.

As initially mentioned the box 9, shown in FIG. 2-7 and FIG. 10-15, is acontrol box containing an electric control for a number of linearactuators and a mains-based power supply. However, there could also beother kinds of boxes involved that can accommodate various otherequipment, or the electrical controller and the mains-based power supplymay be divided into several boxes. FIG. 16 shows an example of a box 29containing a rechargeable battery pack. The underside of this box 29 isprovided with a groove 17 corresponding to the groove on the box 9, thecontrol box, and can thus be mounted with the mounting bracket 22, whichhere is shown securely screwed onto a flat surface 28. The upper side ofthe box 29 has a mounting bracket 22 a corresponding to the mountingbracket shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Instead of designing the mountingbracket 22 as an integral part of the upper side of the box 29, 29 a, itmay be a mounting bracket as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 fastened onto theupper side of the box 29, 29 a. As indicated and shown in FIG. 17, it isthus possible to connect the boxes 29, 29 a. FIGS. 18 and 19 show how abox 9 (control box) in a corresponding manner can be connected with abox 29 (battery pack). This may be relevant where the actuator systemmust be capable of operating even when it is not connected to the mains.This may be the case, for example, for hospital beds which are movedaround the hospital.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the box 9 is provided with a cover 30 whichcan be opened. There are a number of sockets 31 in the space under thecover, shown here with plugs inserted 32, but without the wire. In bothsides and the end of the space, there are lead-throughs 33 for wires,such that these can be led out to one side or the other or out throughthe end. When the cover 30 is closed, its edge will hold the wires inplace in the lead-throughs 33. The cover is secured in its closedposition by means of two spring legs 34, one on each side of the frontend of the cover. There is a tongue 34 a on the outer end of the springlegs 34, which engages with a slot 35 intended for that purpose in theend of the box. The cover can be opened by inserting a tool such as theend of a screwdriver, into the slots 35 and pressing the tongues of thespring legs out of their engagement with the slots. It is noted thatthere is a plug 36 in one corner of the control box for connecting amains cable 37 provided with a socket.

FIG. 21 shows the box 9 mounted with the side on a cable tray 27 and acable is shown that is led into the cabling duct. The lead-through 33 inthe other side of the box 9 is connected to the end of a cabling duct 27a. The lead-through in the end of the box is in a corresponding mannerconnected to the end of another cabling duct 27 b.

For clarity reasons in the control box in FIG. 22 the electrical plugsare left out and so are the sockets on the platform at the rear end ofthe space under the cover 30. As it is apparent from FIG. 22 the controlbox is shown with an open cover 30, the cover comprising an upper side38, a front end 39 and two sides 40, 41. The two sides 40, 41 extend tothe rear in two flaps 40 a, 41 a with a rounded-off end 40 b, 41 bbeginning at the upper side and continuing in a sloping course 40 c, 41c to the underside of the sides 40, 41. There is a hinge pin 42 at thecentre of the two rounded-off ends 40 b, 41 b. The two flaps 40 a, 41 aare located in a recess 43 in the side of the box, such that the side ofthe cover is level with the side of the box generally. The recess 43 canbe seen in FIG. 23, where one side of the cover is cut away. The recess43 has a vertical edge 43 a extending from the upper side of the box andin a rounding 43 b extends into a sloping course 43 c corresponding tothe sloping course 40 c, 41 c on the flaps 40, 41 on the cover. There isa track 44 in the recesses 43 for the hinge pin 42 for the cover. Thetrack 44 has a horizontal course 44 a from the front end of the recessand extends into a sloping course 44 b down towards the bottom of thebox. With this design, the cover 33 can be placed on the box 9 in ahorizontal movement. This can be crucial if the clearance above the box9 is limited. The cover 33 is moved over the box until the hinge pins 42enter the horizontal course 44 a of the tracks 44. When the cover ispressed farther over the box, the hinge pins 42 reach into the slopingcourse 44 b of the tracks 44 and thereby pull the rear end of the coverdown towards the box. The upper side of the box 9 has a ledge 45 with aheight corresponding to the thickness of the upper side 38 of the cover.When the cover is pulled downwards, its rear end is pulled down into theledge 45, such that the upper side of the box and its cover appear as aflat surface. When the cover is opened to its fully raised position, therear edge of the upper side 38 will impact against the upper side of thebox, and thus act as a stop. The cover will then attempt to rotate aboutthe rear edge as a pivot axis, whereby the hinge pins 42 will be pressedup against the upper side in the tracks 44. The cover will thus belocked in its open position. On the underside of the cover there is atransverse rib 46, which extends across the plugs 32 on the platform andkeeps them in place when the cover is closed. Likewise, there is aretainer 47 on the underside of the cover 30 for the plug 32 a forpreventing unintentional pulling out of this.

In FIGS. 25 and 28 the same linear actuator 1 as in FIGS. 2-4 and 7 isshown, but with a further embodiment of the mounting bracket forinsertion over the outer tube 5 on the linear actuator 1. For the sameparts the same references as in FIGS. 2-7 are used. The mounting bracket108 distinguish itself from the mounting bracket 8 shown in FIG. 2-7 inthat it has a further indentation 16 a in each side of the rib 15.Correspondingly, the longitudinal grooves 117 in the control box 9 has afurther pair of protrusions 18 c mating the further indentation 16 a inthe mounting bracket 8. It is noted that the protrusions 18 a at therear end of the groove 117 is bridging the groove such that there is ahollow under this which the front end 15 b of the rib 15 reach under.The control box 9 is mounted in the same manner as in the embodiment inFIG. 2-7. The further indentations/protrusions result in a more reliableand stable attachment of the control box 9. In FIGS. 29 and 32-34 adifferent embodiment of a linear actuator than in FIGS. 2-4 and 7 andFIG. 25, 28 is shown. The linear actuator differs from the linearactuator in FIGS. 2-4 and 7 and 25, 28 by the design of the outer tube205 and the design of the housing 201. The outer tube 205 is having across section made up of a half circle 205 a and a truncated cone 205 band the housing 201 is designed with two longitudinal ribs 201 a,201 b.For the same parts as in FIGS. 2-4 and 7 and 25, 28 the same referencesare used. The mounting bracket 208 for insertion over the outer tube 205is adapted to the different design of the linear actuator. Thus, theopening in the mounting bracket 208 is designed as a half circle and atruncated cone consistent with the cross section of the outer tube 205of the linear actuator. For fixation of the mounting bracket 208 to thehousing one of the two longitudinal ribs 201 b is exploited. As isapparent from FIG. 30 the arm 213 is at its rear end designed with aprojecting hook 213 a. When guiding the mounting bracket 208 over theouter tube 205 of the linear actuator the hook 213 a will snap aroundthe longitudinal rib 201 b on the housing 201 as shown in FIGS. 32 and33 and is thereby locked in its position. A control box 9 could then beattached to the linear actuator as described earlier.

In FIGS. 37 and 38 a further embodiment of the stick-like mountingbracket for a box is shown, the improvement is in line with theimprovement of the mounting bracket for insertion over the outer tube 5on the linear actuator as discussed in relation to FIG. 25-28. Themounting bracket 322 distinguish itself from the mounting bracket shownin FIG. 8-9 in that it has a further indentation 24 a in each sidearranged such that it fits with the design of the longitudinal grooves17 in the control box 9 depicted in FIGS. 28 and 34. The furtherindentation 24 a/protrusions 18 c result in a more stable attachment ofa control box 9 as illustrated in FIG. 10-15, but also of battery boxese.g. as shown in FIG. 39, which corresponds to FIG. 16. However, themounting bracket of the battery boxes is designed as depicted in FIG.37-38 and the grooves 17 with a further indentation as the grooves 17 ofthe control box as depicted in FIG. 28.

For the purpose of mounting a control box 9 by means of the type ofmounting brackets depicted in FIGS. 8-9 and 37-38 an improved embodimentthereof is shown in FIG. 40-43. The improvement consists in that at oneend of the mounting bracket it is designed with an upright arm 413 alike the arm on the mounting bracket 8 for insertion over the outer tube5 on the linear actuator. The upright arm 413 is at the outer end alsoprovided with a cam-shaped protrusion 420 for interacting with theshape-conformed recesses 21 a.21 b on the rear end of the control box 9.This improvement results in a more stable attachment of the control box9, in particular the control box 9 is more secure against tilting.

In the preceding it is described how the mounting bracket depicted inFIG. 37-38 can be used to mounted a control box and a battery boxhowever the mounting bracket could be used to mount other kinds of boxese.g. a control such as a wireless hand control. In connection withadjustable beds such as bed where the back rest and leg rest could beadjusted by means of an linear actuator system, a wireless hand controloften poses a problem, namely where to place it within reach. In FIG. 44is shown an embodiment of a wireless hand control 500 where a groove 117is designed on the rear side for mounting the hand control 500 by meansof a mounting bracket 322 as depicted in FIG. 37-39. The mountingbracket 322 could be attached e.g. to the bed frame at a location withinreach for the occupant of the bed. Needless to say the mounting bracket22 depicted in FIG. 8-9 is also suitable for the hand control 500 thenbeing designed with a groove 17 as shown on the control box in FIG. 7.

In FIG. 45-47 a further embodiment of a box such as a battery box 29 isshown. The box distinguish itself from the boxes depicted in FIGS. 16-19and 39 in that it comprises an opening cover 633 with the sameconstruction as the cover 33 of the control box 9 shown in FIG. 22-24.The cover 633 is located in an opening 629 a in the bottom of the box.For the same parts the same references as in FIGS. 22-27 are used.

Just in case it is noted that the term fastening means also include theterms mounting bracket, bracket, mountings and similar terms.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A linear actuator system comprising alinear actuator with a housing, an electric motor with a transmission, aspindle unit, an activation element in connection with the spindle unitand wherein the electric motor via the transmission drives the spindleunit, such that the activation element moves back and forth depending onthe direction of rotation of the electric motor, and further comprisinga box, such as a control box containing a controller and possibly also amains-based power supply or a battery box with a battery pack, andwherein the box can be secured to an item, wherein the linear actuatorsystem further comprises a fastening means for the box, wherein thefastening means is configured as an elongated item with a rectangularoutline and a square cross-section, wherein the box on the outside isprovided with at least one groove for receiving the fastening means,wherein the fastening means and the groove are formed with mutuallyinteracting releasable locking connections, and wherein the fasteningmeans is designed so that it can be secured to an item.
 2. The linearactuator system according to claim 1, wherein the fastening means isdesigned as an independent element.
 3. The linear actuator systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the fastening means is designed as anintegral part of a box.
 4. The linear actuator system according to claim1, wherein the fastening means is designed as an integral part of atubular mounting bracket intended for mounting a box, on the linearactuator, wherein the mounting bracket with a tubular portion can beslid over the outer tube of the linear actuator.
 5. The linear actuatorsystem according to claim 1, wherein a rib is formed on each side of thefastening means and in that an indentation is formed on the rib partwayin, and in that there are protrusions on the side of the groove on thebox, one pair at the front end of the groove and one pair partway inalong the groove and wherein the protrusions on the groove in terms ofshape correspond to the indentations in the rib of the fastening means.6. The linear actuator system according to claim 1, wherein there areinteracting snap-locking connections in the bottom of the groove on thebox and in the rib on the fastening means.
 7. The linear actuator systemaccording to claim 4, wherein the tubular mounting bracket has anaxially extending slit, and wherein the rib on the fastening meansextends on both sides of the slit.
 8. The linear actuator systemaccording to claim 7, wherein the box is designed with a number ofgrooves for receiving the fastening means such that the box can be fixedin different positions with respect to the fastening means.
 9. Thelinear actuator system according to claim 8, wherein a control box isdesigned with a groove on a side of the control box and two grooves onthe underside of the control box.
 10. The linear actuator systemaccording to claim 2, wherein the fastening means, designed as anindependent element, at least at each end is provided with a hole for ascrew, bolt, nail or similar means of fastening.
 11. The linear actuatorsystem according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a control panel orhand control where a groove is designed on the rear side for mountingthe control panel or hand control by means of the fastening means. 12.The linear actuator system according to claim 1, wherein fastening meansat one end has an upright arm, the upright arm is at the outer endprovided with a cam-shaped protrusion for interacting with ashape-conformed recesses on the rear end of the box.